Apparatus for condensing and treating distillates



Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

R. FLEMING. APPARATUS FOR CONDENSING AND TREATING DISTILLATES.

' APPLICATION FILED DEC-5.1919.

l vantages are effected by causing cracked va- NITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE.

RICHARD FLEMLING, OF WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE RICHARD FLEMING- COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

APPARATUS non coNDENsING AND TREATING D'IsTILLA'rEs.

Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

Original application led March 23, 1918, Serial No. 224,433. Divided and this application filed Decem-v ber 6, 1919. Serial No. 343,051.

To all whom t may concern: 1

Be it known that I', RICHARD FLEMING, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Westfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Condensing and Treating Distillates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates 'to treating distillates from petroleum, shale, coal tar, etc., and has for its object to reduce the time and cost of condensing vapors from pressure cracking stills, and also to enable such vapors to be simultaneously washed or treated withl solutions, while being condensed. These adpors under still pressure to be continuously discharged at high velocity from the pres' sure vapor line into water or other suitable condensing liquid. To maintain the operating still pressure, the vapor line has a constriction such as a nozzle giving continuous discharge, and also imparting 'a high velocity to the vapors upon discharge. Surrounding the nozzle is a body of water or 'other suitable condensing liquid in suflicient volume to envelop the discharging expanding vapors whereby to very quickly condense the vapors with a minimum of decomposition into gases and unsaturated hydrocarbons. The liquid may be supplied under pressure, and may carry purifying chemicals, the mixture of condensate, gas, condensing liquid and reaction products, if any, being preferably` led through a pipe constituting a mixing and condensing passage with or without back pressure producing means to a vessel wherein the Various materials may separate by gravity. One purpose of such washing is to remove sulfur bearing compounds from the distillates either by washing alone, or by combined washing and chemical treatment, and this invention enables the condensation and washing to be done .in one operation, and also enables the pressure at the point of condensation to be controlled so as to reduce the amount of permanent gases obtained. Such a continuous condensing and treating plant has several advantages over the cumbersome and expensive coil condensing plants now in common use in connection with pressure cracking plants, some of which maintain the vapors under crackmg pressure coil, and others of which reduce or relieve.

the cracking pressure on the vapors before Vreaching condensing portions of the coil.

Such condensing plants, especially those condensing under pressure, are usually constructed with the coils immersed in cooling tanks, and are not generally continuous in operation, as both uncondensable gas and the-condensate accumulate in the system and have to be intermittently drawn off. Also, it is not generally practicable to treat the `vapors or condensate in coil condenser systems with water ,or chemicals in solution or suspension during condensation, so as to save a subsequent purifying operation.

This inventionnot only saves a large initial plant investment, but requires less labor and maintenance in operation than coil condenser plants of similar capacity as heretofore constructed, and gives a lessyield of objectionable permanent gases and unsatuv rated hydrocarbons.

Figure 1 is an elevation of a preferred form'of apparatus, and

Fig. 2 is a modification.

l represents a still having a vapor line 2 leading to a header 3 having a series. of air cooled condensing pipes 4 extending therefrom and connected to an upper header 5. 6 is a draw off pipe for the vapor condensed in pipes 4, and is preferably connected for cracking under pressure, to the bottom ofthe still 1, although the vapor condensed in pipe 4 can be separately collected, if desired. The vapor from a cracking still may issue at a temperature as high as 390 C., and under a pressure up to several hundred pounds per square inch, depending upon the process employed. rlhe purpose of the condenser 4 is to condense the heavy or tarry vapor which is not desired in the distillate, before condensing the desired vapor. To this end, the ,surface of the conv denser 4 is proportioned so as to partiall cool the vapor, but still keeping it at suc temperature as notl to condense-the lighter oils. For gasolene distillatesq the condenser 4 will not ordinarily reduce the temperature below about 300 C.

The header 5 is connected to a vertical pipe 7, having a safety valve set to maintain the desired still pressure. A feature of this invention resides in putting the safety valve pipe 7 and -the safety valve sufficiently be. yondthe reflex condenser pipe 2, and prefv in high pressure cracking apparatus, namely that with the safety valve on or close to the still the vapors ignite when the valve opens and not infre uently start a disastrous fire.

From pipeqa pipe 8 having a control valve-9 leads to a nozzle 10 which is convnected to a pipe 11 carrying the condensing and v washing water or other suitable con densingliquid, or solution of chemicals. 12

is a mixing passage which narrows and then' expands, as shown, into a pipe 13 connected to the bottom of a separating tank 14. The tank 14 has a gas outlet 15 at the top controlled by -a valve 16 mounted on a hollow ioat 17, the float andl valve being suitably fao guided so as to open and close the pipe'l according to the fluid level in tank 14.

an elevated separating ltank 19, having a water, discharge p ipe 20, vwith vent 21 to prevent siphon actlon, and an oil discharge pipe 22 leading to an oil storage tank 23.

Vapor inpipe 8 at a temperature for eX.- ample of 300 C. and under a pressure of say seventy-five to one'hu'ndr'ed 'pounds per 'square inch is discharged from the nozzle 10 at very high velocity and entrains the con-A densing liquid or solution supplied by plpe 11, the mixture of vapor and water occur- A, ring in passagev 12 from which it ows at "high velocity into the pipe 13 and thence `into tank 14'. This notl only condenses all of the condensable vapor, but thoroughly washes it at the same time, vthereby removing sulfur and various other\ impurities carried over by the vapor Ifrom the still. The condensing liquid also cools the nozzle. The

'liquid in pipe 11 can also contain chemicals,

such as lead oxid or acetate, andcaustic'soda, or a mixture of lime, 'soda ash., and lead salts, for desulfurizing the condensed vapor. Also, the liquid can carry free sulfur. in suspension, in addition to leador other salts to render insoluble sulfur compounds soluble. In either case, the result is to simultaneously condense and desulfurize the vapor in a single treatment. This reduces vthe cost, simplifies control ofthe still by reason of quicker condensation, which permits samples to be more quickly Obtained, and hence' enables a crackingor distillation process to bemuch m'ore closely followed.

For condensing vapor .under pressure,

where it is desired to maintain a pressure until condensation is complete, such as to prevent excessive loss in permanent gases in condensing vapor from' high pressure cracking stills, it may be desired to prevent fall in pressure by the expansion of the vapor before it condenses, and by expansion of the-uncondensable gases. The injector herein shown is a simple and effective conf densing apparatus for all kinds of oil vapor `carrymg permanent gases, with pressure during condensation, because' by controlling the water pressure, any desired condenslng pressure can besecured. In order to con-` dense under pressure, the water or other liquid supply will be under pressure and in 'such volume that, although the vapor will .withoutthe other within the broad scope of l the invention. With' an injector, y a wide From the tank 14 a pipe I18 is connected to range of condensing pressure is obtainable.

Also an injector vproduces a high velocity,

with a consequent intimate mixing of gases,

vapor and liquid or chemicals. .It will be further understood that the vapor line and liquid line connections 8, 11, can be -reversed, andthat a number of vapor jets can be used with one or more liquid connections. f

C The mixture entering tank 14 consists of gas, oil and condensed liquid. The gas rises Ipipe 13 under which condensation is to tak:J

place. VVlhen a sufficientvolume of gas has accumulated in the top 4of tank 14 with the valvel closed, it forces the liquid into tank 19 suliciently to cause valve 16 to open, allowing the accumulated gas to escape tov -the gas holder connected to pipe 15. The

liquid level then rises and closes the valve, causing the operation to be repeated.

-In'asmuch'as the wash Water is heavierthan the oil it will sink to the bottom of the tank 19(b ut will be maintained at a constant level bythe top of ipe 20, while the oil on top will How out t rough the pipe 22 intothe oil storage tank 23.

In Fig. 2, instead of-using the gas separaf tion tank 14,',and the"elevated ltank 19 to provide'the backr pressure, the pipe 13 will l be provided with an adjustable relief valve tained in natural light fractions. However,

the washing of vapor simultaneously with condensation is of advantage whether or not sulfur compounds are present.

The apparatus herein disclosed is applicable Wherever similar conditions are present, and by specifying oil treatment as one example, I do not limit myself solely to oil,

but intend to cover other uses where cond ensation is to beeected under similar conditions of pressure and temperature. i Various modifications and changes in the details herein described may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. y i

What is claimed, is: fr

1. The -combination with a pressure cracking. still, of a vapor line for conducting the vapors away from the still, means in said line fordischarging vapors at high Velocity while maintaining the still pressure, and means for supplying condensing liquid 1n sufficient volume to envelop and condense the discharging expanding vapors.

2. The combination with a pressure oil cracking still, of a vaporlineconstricted to retain cracking pressure inthe still while discharging vapors at high velocity, a con- A densing chamber receiving the discharged vapors, means for supplying a condensing liquid to the chamber in sufficient volume to envelop the discharging expanding vapors, and a common discharge for the mixture of condensing fluid, condensate and gas.

3. The combination with a pressure oil cracking still, of a vapor line terminating in a nozzle constricted to retain cracking pressure in the still while 'discharging vapors at high velocity, a condensing chamber receiving the discharged vapors, means for supplying a condensing liquidto the chamber in sufiicient volume to envelop the discharging expanding vapors, and a common discharge for the mixture of condensing fluid, condensate and gas.

4. The combination with a pressure oil cracking still, of a Vapor line constricted to retain cracking pressure in the still while discharging vapors at high velocity, a condensingchamber receiving the discharged vapors, means for supplying a condensing liquid to the chamber, and a common discharge having back pressure` producing oil means beyond the chamber for passing the mixture of condensing fluid, condensate and gas.

y5. The combination with a pressure oil cracking still, of a water jet condenser connected to said still, a common pipe receiving the gas, water and condensed oil from said condenser, and means connected to said pipe for separating gas, Water and oil.

6. The combination with a pressure oil cracking still,-of a vapor line constricted to retain cracking pressure in the still While discharging vapors at high velocity, a chamber receiving the discharged vapors, means for supplying a condensing liquid and chemical purifying agents to Saidhamber in sufficient Volume to envelop the discharging. expanding vapors, a common pipe receiving the resulting mixture, and gravity separating means. l

7 The combination with a pressure oil cracking'still, of a discharge pipeterminating in a nozzle, means for supplying condensing liquid around said nozzle, and a passage beyond said nozzle for mixing the liquidand the vapors having a restriction Afor maintaining a back pressure.

8. The' combination with a pressure oil cracking still, of areflux condenser for cooling the vapors, a safety valve in the vapor line beyond said condenser at such point as `to discharge vapors at a temperature below 4low their igniting point, means in the vapor line beyond said safety valve for restricting the vapor iow to maintain ycracking pressure in the still, and a liquid liet vapor condenser beyond said means.

1Q. The combinatian with a pressure oil cracking still, of a discharge pipe terminat-` ying in a nozzle, means for supplying liquid under pressure around said nozzle, a passage beyond said nozzle for mixing the liquid and the vapors having a restriction for maintaining a back pressure, and means for maintaining a static pressure in the passage beyond said restriction.

11. The combination with a pressure oil cracking still, of means for cooling the vapors below the iash pointta dephlegmator, a safety valve at a point where the vapors are below the ignition point, a passage leading from the dephelgmator to a nozzle, a chamber having means for supplying condensing water adjacent said nozzle, and means for discharging the resulting mixture ofcondensate, water and gas.

12. An oil treating apparatus comprising a still vapor deliveryA pipe, a 'condenserfor partially cooling theA vapor to condense heavy constituents, a vapor nozzle, a pressure waterI supply connected to said nozzle, a mixing passage@ vapor and'water, and" means for separating gas, oil and water.

13. An oil treating apparatus comprising a still vapor delivery pipe, aJ condenser 'ion partially cooling the vapor to condense eavy constituents, a vaporv nozzle, agwater supply connected to said nozzle, a mlxing passage for vapor and water, means for pro-` duclng pressure in said passage, and means for separating gas, oil and water.

14. An oil treating apparatus comprising a still vapor delivery pipe, an air cooled condenser for partially cooling the vapor to condense heavy constituents, a vapor nozzle',

a water supply connected to said nozzle, a mixing passage forvapor and water, and

' nozzle in sulicient volume Ato envelop andV condense the discharging expanding vapors.

means for separating gas, oil vand water.

15. The combinatlon witha pressure loil cracking still,lof a nozzle discharging the cracked vapors at high velocity whilemaintaining the pressure in the still, vand means for supplying a condensing liquid around the ,16. TheI combination with an oil cracking still operating at a predetermined pressure, of a nozzle discharging the cracked vapors densing liquid around thenozzle under such pressure'and in such volume as to envelop and condense the discharging expanding vapors'by direct contact without excessive loss in gases or variation of still pressure.

18. The combination of an oil cracking still, a pipe for conducting oil" the vapors,

4and a liquid contact condenser' connected thereto supplying liquid in sulicient volume to envelop and condense theexpanding discharging vapors, said liquid carrying agents sation.

19. The combination of' a pressure oil cracking still, of a vapor pipe from said for desulfurizing the vaporsduring condenstill, a pipe connected t'o-such vapor pipe for v supplying cooling liquid under pressure to effect condensation of vapors Aby direct contact, and a relief valve beyond said pipes to permit the discharge of products of condensation and the cooling liquid under predetermined pressure.

20. The combination of a pressure cracking-still, means for conducting the vapors away from the still, means for injecting condensing liquid into' the vapor to effect condensation by direct contact, and a relief valve to permit discharge of the condensing liquid and condensed products under predetermined pressure.

2l. The combination with a pressure oil'.

cracking still, of a vapor outlet, a reflux condenser connected thereto, a connection from said condenser leading to the' bottom of the still,'a vapor line leading from the condenser and terminating in a nozzle for maintaining still pressure and discharging .vapors atI a.

high velocity, a water chamber surrounding the nozzle and leading to a discharge line,

and means for supplying water to said chamber for condensing said vapors by direct contact.` V

' Signed at New York city, in'the county ofv New York and State of New York this 5th day of December, D. 1919.V e,

RICHARDA FLEMINGJ 

